Everglades
The Everglades is a vast subtropical wetland ecosystem in southern Florida, shaped by slow, seasonal water flow across a broad, shallow landscape.
Sheet flow: The broad, shallow movement of water across a landscape rather than through a defined channel. Slow sheet flow carries water south across the Everglades and connects its habitats.
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan: A large federal-state program to restore south Florida’s water system and Everglades ecosystem. The plan aims to restore more natural water flows while meeting regional water needs.
Lake Okeechobee: A large, shallow freshwater lake in south-central Florida. Historically, water from Lake Okeechobee spread south into the Everglades.
Phosphorus pollution in the Everglades: Excess phosphorus entering Everglades wetlands, chiefly from agricultural runoff. Added phosphorus favors cattails and changes plant communities adapted to nutrient-poor water.
Hydroperiod: The duration and timing of seasonal flooding in a wetland. Differences in flooding duration help determine which Everglades plants and animals can persist.
Everglades National Park: A national park in southern Florida protecting a large portion of the Everglades ecosystem. The park preserves wetlands, coastal habitats, and wildlife across the southern Everglades.
Miami limestone: A porous limestone formation underlying much of southeastern Florida. This shallow bedrock helps shape the Everglades’ flat terrain and water movement.
Water management in South Florida: The control and allocation of water through canals, reservoirs, levees, and pumps in southern Florida. Managed releases and diversions alter the timing, depth, and distribution of Everglades flows.
Rainy season: The part of the year when rainfall is greatest in a region with seasonal precipitation. Summer rains drive the annual rise in Everglades water levels.
Florida Bay: A shallow estuary between the Florida Keys and the southern Florida mainland. Freshwater flow from the Everglades strongly affects Florida Bay’s salinity and ecology.